Microsoft threatens to ban Xbox Live cheaters

Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Xbox Live and better known to gamers as Major Nelson, has posted a warning to all Xbox 360 owners about the perils of sharing Xbox Live account information and tampering with Gamerscore or Achievements.

Hryb made reference to the practice of sharing Live account information with other gamers in order to artificially boost a user’s Gamerscore, noting that some users have been giving information to people who claim to be able to "rank you up or find you all the hidden skulls in Halo 3." He also referred to the practice of manipulating the Xbox software without playing the game to obtain achievements. Such actions violate the Xbox Live terms of use and could result in a user’s Gamerscore being removed, or even worse, having their account or even console banned from Xbox Live.